Triplalot

If p&o top up the pot to compensate the "stiffers" then they aren't being stiffed surely.

It's a "voluntary" tip so each to their own, everyone has their own choice to make - simples

So if P&O put the cost of their cruises up so that they can top up the tips pot, then it is the P&O customers (particularly those who do not remove the auto gratuities) who are being "stiffed" by those individuals who through their personal choice decide not to tip, thereby paying their portion of the tips and then topping up the pot to cover the deficit. Although tipping or not is a personal choice (I'm with the keep auto tips in place part of the debate), I can understand some of the emotive comments that this issue is raising :)

I've noticed that all Port timings are a bit vague for the Oceana Med Cruises (I am doing the same cruise in July). Whatever time won't be a problem for me since once I embark I plan to stay onboard and acquaint myself with the ship, however if I was planning on seeing Venice this would be a little irritating.

that sounds lovely, have a great time on the cruise, and enjoy yourselves.

 

 

your bud

Thanks Laura, only 3 months to go :)

Hi..........we're on a cruise in a few weeks & were looking forward to the formal nights. I have a problem. I'm waiting for an oesophagal dilation & can't eat much...........was looking forward to dining in the MDR but think now it will have to be the buffet. Just sloppy foods........

 

Will we feel 'out of place' if we're in formal clothes in the buffet? We enjoy dressing up but don't want to feel out of place.............

 

I'm still looking forward to the cruise but it will be different...............

Maybe you could sit in the MDR and have the soup course and maybe a sloppy desert? You don't have to eat all courses and some of the food could be suitable for your dietary requirements, perhaps request small portions? Especially on formal nights it would probably be nicer.

Matching ties to dresses, hmmm maybe I need to go shopping for new dresses to match his new ties :)

I bravely ventured in to the recesses of my wardrobe where all my formal dresses hide and realised that I have enough dresses for more than one cruise, some unworn with labels, and yes I can match my husbands bow ties, or clash well :). Next is the shoe hunt !

I take two dinner suits, one has a shawl collar and the other more modern one has a notched collar and is actually a mid grey but has satin edges to the collar and the standard satin stripe down the trousers so a grey suit is fine. I also take a white tux to wear as well. I don't think anybody really minds as long as you wear a suit and tie.

 

All my formal shirts are wing collars but I do like my bow ties. My current favourite is a black background with guitars printed on it :D

 

I do also try to match the colour of my tie to my partners dress. :cool:

 

So the watch word is be smart but be comfortable.

 

Peter

Matching ties to dresses, hmmm maybe I need to go shopping for new dresses to match his new ties :)

Just expanding this theme.....

can you please state the difference between a shirt and a "dress shirt"?

I remember back in the 70s when dinosaurs stalked the earth, that dress shirts had the frilly bits down the front. ( I have a horrible picture of Jason King in my head now!)

How does a dress shirt differ?

Many thanks

My husbands dress shirts are very understated plain white with a plain panel covering the buttons (he doesn't want to wear studs), and holes in the cuffs for cuff links. The collars are smaller than his work shirts and the cotton probably better quality. No frills for him however the bow ties are rather less understated :)

Although he has a couple of aged Dinner suits (at least 15 years old) my husband has purchased a more modern tailored black suit which he plans to wear on formal nights teamed with dress shirts and bow ties. I have just bought him an assortment of bow ties including a black and white patterned one for Black and White night, albeit none are standard black :)

I've been looking at Adonia for a potential future cruise if we survive 2 weeks on Oceana. Adonia is very small when compared to Britannia but has some interesting itineraries because it can fit into smaller ports. It is also adult only which might be nice now our daughter has grown up and no longer wants to go with us. I've also been looking at Britannia :)

Glad you are having a good time on Oceana. We sail on her in July and I have been reading some not very encouraging reviews, hopefully yours will raise my spirits :). Enjoy the rest of your cruise !

I believe it can go in your checked luggage but I suggest you wrap it in sealed polythene bags to protect against leaks. You can also buy wine during port excursions to take to your cabin.

Enjoy your cruise :)

Hi Newbieafloat - have a wonderful time - I am sure you will, and be sure to tell us all about it when you get back. I still have another 43 sleeps to go before my first cruise of the year...:)

One thing I found whilst on board is that if you don't switch your phone off, it is constantly "hunting" for a signal and the battery didn't last very long - certainly ran down quicker than normal. It's not quite so bad on port days but could be a problem at sea. just worth keeping an eye on.

Bon Voyage!

A phone option is to switch it to inflight mode which will extend battery life. I only intend to use mine in wifi zones on land and will give my cabin contact details for emergencies when I travel. My calendar is definitely broken July 1st is a long way away :(

Once on a cruise with NCL we shared a table for dinner with a young couple who we're traveling with the ladies Mother who was about ages with your MIL. They were sharing an inside cabin and appeared to be getting along famously even at the end of the 12 night cruise.

An option you have is to use the showers in the Spa area to free up the bathroom for your companions that way you can shower at leisure and get a degree of privacy, especially on formal nights.

We are staying in an indoor cabin on Oceana this July in the Med, albeit only the 2 of us and I will be happy to answer any questions you have about the cabins and ship when I get back.

Good luck with your planning :)

I would also be interested to hear about this cabin since I am booked into B516 for my cruise in July (my choice because it is mid ship away from the lifts) which is not too far away. I know it will be small but don't plan spending much time inside it, but am interested in details of storage space in the cabin and bathroom.

I hope I don't have this problem on Ventura end of April. I'm not a sun worshipper but its nice to have a swim and then a lie down in the sun to dry out before going in to change. Means I'm not walking through the ship with a wet swimming costume on.

Wiz 201 I have similar concerns with my July cruise on Oceana, it's nice to lie down to dry, however I don't spend too long on a sun lounger. Maybe I'll just use a "Reserved " one in a sunny spot and hope that the user doesn't come back :)

The online shops for House of Fraser and John Lewis have some nice sparkly garments many of which have actually been reduced. I am actually shopping for bow ties for my husband, so many to choose from :)

Although nothing is added to the drinks I believe that a percentage of the price is paid to the bar staff. Accordingly it is not necessary to tip the batman although I doubt a tip would be refused.

I really don't think I would enjoy Rome for a day since I don't like long transfers and if I did it myself I would worry for the whole time I was rushing around Rome about getting back before Oceana set sail. I think trying to cram everything into a limited timescale and worrying would spoil the experience for me. Accordingly Mr and Mrs Trip will be having a lazy afternoon on the beach in Tarquinia working on our tans through factor 30 sunblock :).

I really recommend Florence we were there last year during a driving tour of Tuscany, it was lovely. We won't be going again during our cruise since we have opted for a short Pisa trip since we missed this during our road tour.

In Naples I was drawn to the Versuvius wine and Villas tour, despite really wanting to go to Pompeii :)

It may be something to ponder on but will no doubt result in price increases should more people select to remove the auto tipping. The better solution would be to include the tipping charge in the price of the cruise, albeit what would we do then if we received bad service?

I had a rather nasty reaction to P20 sun cream (after about 3 days use) which took weeks to clear up and was very uncomfortable. I now only use the varieties that you have to reapply, mostly with no issues.

Catperson you are not alone, I can get very determined if I believe I'm being denied something I might not actually want :)

Without flexibility this package would not be good for me since my wine choice sometimes depends on my dinner choices, or how I feel at the time :).

I would never be able to pre order not knowing numbers of white, red and fizz would be required. Also, if I decide on a particularly dry white (one of my favorites), my husband is liable to order a bottle more palatable to him albeit the 2 bottles of wine could in theory (not always in reality) be drank over a couple of evenings :)

Shame there is no rose in either of the packages!

The problem for me with wine packages whether bought on the ship or before sailing is lack of choice. If the first wine you drink you like very much you can't order it again as with individual choices.

 

I drink a lot of wine at home and some highly recommend wine taste like vinegar to me. It's all about taste.

 

David.

I was informed that with a wine package you get a pack of vouchers which you can exchange for any bottle of wine in that collection, thereby if you like a wine you can order it again.

This change of topic really takes the biscuit :) :)

Just wait till the blokes get going.

 

Johny Jockstrap and Charlie Codpiece?

 

David.

Thinking of changing my screen name to Silky Stockings :)